HAMILTON, New Zealand – West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson said Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels will receive the full support of the West Indies Team Management Unit Cricket and the West Indies Cricket Board following the publication of the findings on tests conducted on their bowling actions.

West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson.

The International Cricket Council, the sport’s World governing body, announced on Monday that Shillingford had been suspended from bowling in international matches, after an independent biomechanical analysis conducted in Australia found his bowling action illegal.

The ICC also said that Samuels’ bowling action for his standard off-break delivery was bowled with a legal action, but that his quicker deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees’ level of tolerance and thus, were considered to be illegal. While Samuels is allowed to continue to bowl his standard off-break delivery in international cricket, he is not permitted to bowl his quicker deliveries.

“Though I felt confident about the way the two players performed at the testing, the report did not come back in our favour,” said Gibson.

“Shane is obviously gutted, but Marlon’s role in the team, as I have said previously, is primarily as a batsman, so the impact on him is a little bit less.”

Gibson added: “We will formulate a suitable plan of action and work to rehabilitate their bowling actions in the New Year, so Shane can continue his international career in the shortest possible time and Marlon can continue to contribute with the ball when he’s required.

“They are both tough characters and have had their share of ups and downs in the game over the years. We have no doubt that they will emerge from this latest setback with the utmost confidence.”

The ICC decision has ruled Shillingford out of the imminent third Test against New Zealand, starting on Thursday at Seddon Park here, and he will return to the Caribbean as scheduled following the match.

Samuels will however, feature in the deliberations for the Test and has also been chosen as part of the 15-member Windies squad for the subsequent five One-day Internationals that follow the Test series.